Free Checklist

The first 24 hours after a dog bite.

What you do today shapes both your health and your claim. Here’s a clear, calm checklist for the most important day — get safe, get care, and protect the evidence before it’s gone.

Download the checklist →Or call (313) 474-8203 1-page printable checklist · free

First: get safe and get care

Your health comes before everything else.

Get away from the dog, control any bleeding, and seek medical attention — even for a bite that looks minor. Dog bites carry a real risk of infection, and a doctor can assess whether you need a tetanus shot or rabies follow-up. Beyond your health, prompt medical records are also some of the strongest evidence in a claim, because they tie your injuries to the bite on the day it happened.

Then: document everything

✓Photograph your injuries, torn clothing, and the scene

✓Get the owner’s name, address, phone, and insurance details

✓Identify the dog — breed, size — and ask about its rabies vaccination

✓Collect the names and numbers of any witnesses

✓Write down exactly what happened, where, and when

✓Report the bite to animal control or police — it creates an official record

What to avoid

Don’t give a recorded statementPolitely decline the owner’s insurer until you’ve gotten advice.

Don’t sign or accept quick cashEarly offers are usually a fraction of a claim’s real value.

Don’t waitEvidence, memories, and witnesses fade within days.

PDF

First 24 Hours Checklist1-page printable checklist · free to download and use

Download free →

Related resources

Dog Bite Incident LogCapture the full incident in detail Witness Statement FormRecord what a witness saw Injury & Expense TrackerTrack every cost over time Bitten? Start HereYour first steps, start to finish What’s a Case Worth?Michigan settlement value

Bitten today? Talk to us before the insurer does.

The first call you get may be the dog owner’s insurance company. Talk to The Michigan Dog Bite Law Firm first — the review is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.

Get a free case review →Or call (313) 474-8203

This checklist is general information, not legal or medical advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. For a medical emergency, call 911.

First 24 Hours After a Dog Bite